The rumours over the star judges for this year’s X Factor have already started flying around the internet and the latest has been that Louis Walsh has been fired from the show.

According to these rumours, Nick Grimshaw was lined up to take over the role of the longest serving judge with a show insider saying: “Grimmy is one of the most well connected men in showbiz and will make a brilliant judge.

“It's clear Cowell's hope is that he will attract new viewers and artists to the show. He feels fresher and more relevant than some of the previous judges.

"Louis has been a great servant to the show but he is out of touch now compared to up and coming stars like Grimmy. The hope is Grimmy can come in and Louis will leave.

“There are complications because Grimmy has a Radio 1 contract with the BBC and will be working for ITV too. But everyone seems confident something can be worked out.”

The latest from Louis Walsh himself now seems to suggest that his fate is much less set in stone. He said: “People keep asking me what's happening with X Factor, but – honestly - I don’t know. 

“I definitely haven’t been fired, but I haven’t been hired either, so it’s all up in the air. Either way, there are two empty seats to fill, but that's all I know. More importantly, I feel at peace with whatever happens.”
Rumours were perpetuated by the show’s boss Simon Cowell who tweeted “Louis Walsh is one of the good guys. We will always be friends. The door remains open and who knows what's next.......”

Whether or not Walsh will be returning to the show, the rumours that precede this and all the other series make sure that everyone is talking about the X Factor long before it hits our screens.